Improvement in horse-detachers



C. METZGER.

Horse-Detachers. (N0.150,963 Patented nM/19,1814.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CONRAD METZGER, OF 1CRUGrER, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO ALT GERDES, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN HORSE-DETACHERS.

Specification formingpart of Letters Patent No. 150,968, dated May 19, 1874; application led April 9, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CONRAD METZGER, of Oruger, in the county of Woodford and in the State of Illinois, have invented an Improvement in Sin gie-Trees and mode of detachment of the attached double-trees or harness-traces 5 and do hereby declare that the followin g is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which like letters of referencerefer to like parts, and in Which- Figure l represents a plan View; Fig. 2, an elevation of end one of the same, seen from the rear; Fig. 3, end view of the latter.

This invention has for its object to provide a device for detaching instantaneously the harness-traces or the double-trees from the single-tree in case of necessity or danger; and consists of a rod attached or hinged upon the sin glc-tree, and running from end to end of same, provided with a lever or crank at its middle part, from which a line or strap leads to the drivers seat. Each end of the rod is bent into a small crank, to each of which is attached a tongue or vertical pin, the lower end of which passes through an eye or opening in the met-al eye-piece or terminal mounting of the single-tree, and rests behind and against the lower part of the sub stance around the opening, in such a manner as to retain the eye or link of the doubletree or trace. By lifting the lever or crank in the middle of the rod the tongues or pins are simultaneously withdrawn from the eyes of the double-trees or traces, and the horse or horses, or other animal, is immediately disconnected from the vehicle.

The following description applies to one of the forms in which I construct my invention:

In the drawings, A represents the singletree, with a flat horizontal extension at the part b, at which the bolt passes through it, provided at each end with an` eyepiece, B, which is attached to the end of the single-tree by a thimble, k 7s. Upon the upper part of the eye proper of the single-tree are bearings f f for the reception of the end of the rod C,

between which bearings the rod is bent into .a small crank, g, whose normal position is hori- Zontal. From the crank depends a tongue or pin, h, which passes in front of the opening in `the eye-piece B, down through the eye or link D of the trace or single-tree, which is introduced through this opening, below which the tongue or pin h passes behind and rests against the back part of the metal frame which borders the opening in the eye-piece B. D represents the link or eye of the singletree, or of a trace, provided with notches p on its upper surface, by which it is prevented from passing backward through the eye B by a pawl, ,hinged to the front of the same. The crank at the middle of the rod is kept down by a spring, d, until it is required to be used.

The operation of Athis device is as follows: On raising the crank in the center of the rod O, the end cranks gv g lift their attached tongues h h, which ret-ain the links D in the eye-piece B, and the double-trees or traces are immediately freed from thev vehicle.

That I claim as my invention is p l. The single-tree A, having the eye-pieces B B, crank-rod- O, and cranks g g over each eye of the eye-pieces, and the tongues h h, substantially as and for the purposes described. Y

2. In combination with a single-tree, thc eye-pieces B B, crankrod C, provided with cranks g g, and the retaining-spring d, subA stantially as described.

3. In combination with the eye-piece B, the pawl t and the link vD, provided with the notches p, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing single-tree, I have hereunto set my hand this 2d day of April, 1874.

CONRAD METZGER.

Witnesses Jo. METZGER, C. DENAHY. 

